The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-11
KNOWN BY HIS HAT.
A RUSSIAN PEASANTS ADVENTURE.


When Peter the Great was reigning in
Moscow, and st. Petersburg was not yet
built, Russian peasant in tattered
sheepskin frock was cutting turf in lone
ly spot onone Of the great plains OF Gen.
trail Russia. It was burning summer
day, and his work had made him very hot
and tired; but one could see by his down.
cast face and hanging head, that some
great trouble was pressing harder upon
him than even this fatiguing labor.
Looking up in one of the pauses OF his
work, the turf-cutter saw tall young
man coming slowly over the plain to meet
him. The new conner wore the green,
gold-laced uniform of the Palace Guards;
but the lace was so faded, and the coat
itself so threadbare, that one would have
judged this officer to be either very
careless man or very poor one.
"He looks as il he had lost his way"
muttered the peasant, as the stranger
halted and glanced doubtfully around
him. 81 must see il I can't put him
right; it's always comfort, when ones
in trouble ones self, to help somebody
else out of it,"
The young officer, however, did not
look like man who would need much
help from any one. He was immensely
tall, taller by far than any one whom the
peasant had yet seen, and his broad chest,
and long, sinewy limbs showed signs OF
enormous strength. His smooth, hand
some face wore rather sad look, and he
walked slowly, as if either tired or in
deep thought; but there was an air of un-
conscious power in his upright bearing
and in the firm set OF his head, as if he
felt himself to be match, and more than
a match, for anything that he might
meet. Altogether, he seemed to be the
sort Of man whom one would much rather
have for friend than for an enemy.
"Hollo, brother r. cried the stranger in
deep, strong voice, am I far from the
village of Volkhoff I think I must have
gone wrong somehow"
Your honor has gone wrong, indeed"
answered the peasant, shaking his head,
sits long way to Volkhoff from here.
You must keep eastward till you come to
big tree standing all by itself, and then
you must turn southwark as far as a
small lake. Then, after that, you'll make
big bend round to the right, and"
"Oh, shall never be able to remember
all that" said the officer laughing. "Sup
pose you come along with me, and show
me the way yourself"
I'D do it gladly, your honor" said the
peasant, hesitating; "but, you see, if 1
lose my days work, then"
"You shall lose nothing by helping
me, be assured of that" said the young
man gravely. "How much do you earn
in day?"
"Twenty kopecks." Fifteen cents.)
"Twenty kopecksp echoed the stran-
ger, looking down pityingly at the poor
tired man, who worked SO hard for such
scauty pay. "Well, here's half rouble
(thirty- cents) for you, and now
come along. By the bye" he added, "if
we pass near your house, you might carry
your turf home at the same time"
at would need two journeys to do
that, your honor"
1.-TWO? Why these four baskets would
surely hold it ALL"
There's not man in Russia, your
honor, who could carry all four at once
when they're full. The two smallest are
enough for me-"
"Not man in Russia, eh?" said the
young officer. "We'll try that. Sling
those four baskets over my shoulders,
and then fill them"
The laborer hesitated, but the young
man spoke like one accustomed to be
obeyed. As he stopped to receive the
baskets, the peasant slung them over his
shoulders, two before and two behind,
and then piled in the turf till all four
were full to the top. Then it was a sight
to see the great tower-like figure rise
slowly to it's full height under that load,
and stride away so briskly that the
amazed peasant had hard work to keep
up.
A short walk brought them to the
wretched howell that was the poor turf
cutters only home; and while the latter
was emptying his baskets, the strangers
keen eyes were noting the miserable and
poverty-stricken look Of the whole place.
A few kind words spoken as they started
again, went straight to the poor peasants
overburdened heart, and the whole story
of his grief came out.
Some years before, he had bought at a
high price, from rich neighbor, small
patch Of ground that had proved to be
worth hardly anything at all. Moreover,
not being able to make up the full pur-
chase money at the time, he had got into
debt, and the debt kept growing larger
and larger, from the high rate OF interest